Chelsea are rapidly pushing through a deal for Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as new manager Enzo Maresca looks to be reunited with the 25-year-old ahead of his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.
football.london understands the Blues have already made a formal offer to the Foxes for the star who won the Foxes’ Player of the Season under Maresca in last season’s Championship-winning campaign. With Leicester under pressure to abide with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) this summer, it’s no surprise they’re ready to sell one of their best academy products the summer after securing promotion.
Dewsbury-Hall’s contract will expire in June 2027, meaning the Blues will have to pay a hefty sum given the three years still left on his current deal at Leicester. So, with that being said, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about the midfielder and the ever-evolving transfer saga…
Chelsea send formal offer
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea have submitted a formal offer for Dewsbury-Hall, with the star said to have declined the option to join Brighton after Chelsea joined the race. If a deal is struck between the two sides, personal terms likely won’t be an issue and the star would be set to sign a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge – something that has been consistent under the ownership of Todd Boehly in the two years the American has been in charge at Chelsea.
Brighton deal collapse
In order to secure Dewsbury-Hall’s services, Chelsea had to hijack Brighton’s proposed swap deal with Leicester at the eleventh hour – forcing the collapse of an almost-complete move. The Seagulls were to send Jakub Moder to the Foxes in return for Dewsbury-Hall but the arrival of Chelsea onto the scene has seen that move stop in its tracks.
Now it’s said Brighton have left talks for the star and that the 25-year-old’s only destination this summer will be Chelsea if he does end up leaving. According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Dewsbury-Hall is keen on an exit from the King Power Stadium and personal terms aren’t an issue between the two sides.
Player swaps
It’s claimed by multiple sources that Chelsea may include a player swap in their deal in order to refrain from spending up too much money in the summer transfer window. David Datro Fofana, who has essentially been exiled from the Blues since his arrival in January last year, is one name that has been touted as a potential swap although it looks unlikely, with Armando Broja in the same boat according to Nizaar Kinsella.
Cesare Casadei, who spent the first half of last season under Maresca at Leicester, is another name said to be potentially included in the deal and will no doubt be discussed by the two sides after his impressive performances for the Foxes.
It should be noted the 21-year-old only arrived at Chelsea two years ago, and has made just 11 first team appearances after stints in the academy and a half-season-long loan spell at Reading in 2023, and is a promising talent.
Maresca gives stance
Speaking in November last year while manager of Leicester, Maresca claimed: “Kiernan is probably the player that since we have started I can realise he has improved more than the rest. Now in this moment, he has the calmness that that kind of player needs
“At the beginning, he was full of responsibility because he’s from the academy and after relegation, these things. After the first international break, he calmed down, and now if you’re watching the game as a fan, it’s a pleasure to watch Kiernan and see how calm he is.
“He’s fantastic with the ball, he knows when to attack and what to give the team. He is so dangerous near the box, and has the quality to score or assist from anywhere. He’s always giving the pass, getting assists. Unfortunately for him, his team-mates, they miss many goals, but otherwise 10 or 15 assists already.”
In the January transfer window, Maresca repeatedly highlighted his worry that Dewsbury-Hall would be picked up by a Premier League club over the winter period due to his outstanding displays in the Championship, and admitted the midfielder wasn’t distracted by any transfer speculation that was happening at the time.
“Tonight he showed how he takes care of his club,” Maresca said. “He’s scored already 10 goals probably for the first time in his life. This kind of thing, people don’t give the right importance and it’s not a good thing.
“No [I didn’t have to speak to Kiernan], he’s a Leicester player, he played tonight, and hopefully he can play the next one. He showed tonight how he’s in love with the club, how he’s in love with Leicester.
“Now if something happens, I don’t know. I don’t want Kiernan to go. Ask the club if we need to sell or not. The only way we can do something is to sell players. I don’t think that Kiernan’s future was about this game. Kiernan is a Leicester player, hopefully he can play in the next game. Here, he showed once again he is in love with the club, if something will happen now, I don’t know.”
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